A trip to the South of France is always an opportunity to get away from it all and get some sunshine, even in the coolest months. Today, with high-speed lines, you can reach the south by train in just a few hours. Bordeaux, Marseille or Nîmes are about 3 hours from Paris. In addition, by booking in advance, you have the opportunity to book tickets at very attractive prices. Once there, car rental is a practical and economical way to travel the most beautiful roads. With a 24/7 service, travel planning is simplified. All that remains is to prepare your itinerary and enjoy it, quite simply.
Discover Marseille and the Provençal hinterland
Once in Marseille, we take the time to discover the city before picking up the car. France's oldest city has a lot to offer its visitors. The Old Port of Marseille is a lively and warm place where it is pleasant to have a drink and taste some specialities. The various districts such as Le Panier and Cours Saint-Julien reveal a rich historical and cultural heritage. The particularity of the city is also its openness to a beautiful natural environment. Before taking the road towards the hinterland, take a detour to the creeks for the pleasure of photographing the rocky cliffs that plunge into turquoise blue water. Then, we take the road to the north to admire hilly and bucolic landscapes. At the bend of winding roads, we discover high perched villages, where the squares surrounded by houses with ochre facades are the landmark of the inhabitants who came to exchange in a friendly atmosphere. Barjols and Cotignac house buildings in a typical Provençal style, as well as troglodyte dwellings, with their particular charm. Do not miss out on the trip to the village of Correns, surrounded by vineyards and lands with multiple livestock farms. This village is also the first organic village in France.
Nîmes and its surroundings
A next step may be a dive in the Nîmes region. The city fascinates with its Roman remains and we take the time to visit the amphitheatre, the Maison Carrée and climb to the top of the Magne tower to enjoy a superb panorama. A last passage through the gardens of La Fontaine before taking the road towards the Camargue. This territory, which covers a total of 150,000 hectares, is home to unusual villages. La Grau-du-Roi and the citadel of Aigues-Mortes are just some of the names to be added to its list. As we drive along our itinerary, we can see an extremely diverse fauna through different farms. Horses are the symbol of this, but we also have the pleasant surprise of seeing pink flamingos and other species living in total freedom. And what about the Cévennes, in the northwest? Except that preserved nature is a call to disconnection and that it satisfies lovers of wide open spaces and nature. During a visit to the Cévennes National Park, one can only notice the richness of the landscapes and heritage, on a territory that is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mop around Perpignan
The South of France reveals multiple landscapes and it would be wrong to want to make them a homogeneous whole. The Pyrénées-Orientales offers several sites to visit, with some must-see places. We start by going to Collioure, the pearl of the Vermeille coast. A castle overlooking the sea, colourful facades and its port where typical small boats take place make this city a very popular place, including painters from earlier times. You can immerse yourself in the Catalan atmosphere and understand that the Spanish border is no longer very far away, both in the specialities offered in restaurants and in the architecture of certain monuments. To the north of Perpignan, very close to the pond of Leucate, stands a jewel of Spanish military architecture: the fortress of Salses and its orange colour, in Salses-le-Château, is a 15th century masterpiece, open to the public all year round. It regularly hosts exhibitions of contemporary artists.
When to leave?
While many people travel to the South of France in summer, this part of the country is actually pleasant to visit all year round. It is preferable to go there out of season, when the roads are less congested. In spring, autumn and even winter, temperatures can rise above 10 degrees during the day. A road trip in the South by car is an opportunity to discover the exception of the French territory, with quick train access to the main cities of the regions.
